States
Jury duty in New York: pay, employer rules and excuses
Independent site, not a court. Answer your summons and ask for an excuse only through the court that summoned you.
Calculate New York's $72 daily juror fee, see whether your employer must cover the first three days, and learn how long you stay off the jury list afterwards.
What jury duty in New York will pay you
You receive for 5 days
$360
| Court fee | $144 |
| Employer, by law | $216 for 3 days |
| A normal 5 days of work | $1,000 |
| Income lost | $640 |
| Age rule | no age exemption |
New York: $72 per day of attendance in state courts (amended 2025). Employed jurors whose employer must keep paying at least $72 do not also get the state fee; if wages are under $72 the state pays the difference. Before tax. Employers with more than 10 employees may not withhold the first $72 of daily wages for the first 3 days of jury service; after that, pay may be withheld.
All jury rules in New YorkNew York state courts pay $72 per day of attendance under N.Y. Judiciary Law § 521 (amended in 2025). The fee works together with wages: an employer with more than 10 employees may not withhold the first $72 of your daily wages for the first 3 days of service (§ 519), and in that case you do not also receive the state fee; if your wages are below $72, the state pays the difference. The qualifications set a minimum age of 18 and no upper limit or age exemption (§ 510). Trial jurors serve no more than five court days of attendance unless a trial they sit on runs longer. Afterwards you are not eligible again for 6 years, or 8 if service lasted more than 10 days. One postponement to a definite date within 6 months is available from the county commissioner of jurors. Failing to return the questionnaire or to appear carries a civil penalty of up to $250 under § 527.
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
Who pays a New York juror on days one to three
New York splits the cost between employers and the state. If you work for an employer with more than 10 employees, it must keep paying at least the first $72 of your daily wages for the first 3 days, and the state fee is not paid on top for those days. If your daily wages are under $72, the state makes up the gap so you still reach that figure. From day 4, an employer may stop paying, and the state's $72 daily fee is what you receive. Set the calculator to five days, the usual maximum, to see both stages.
A long rest period after New York service
New York offers one of the longest gaps between summonses: after serving in state court you are not eligible again for 6 years from your last day, and for 8 years if your service lasted more than 10 days. There is no age exemption, so older residents use the general grounds of § 517 instead: mental or physical incapacity, or undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to you, a person in your care or the public. A breastfeeding mother may postpone service for up to 2 years, well beyond the standard single postponement of up to 6 months.
The rules in New York, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $72 a day | N.Y. Judiciary Law § 521 |
| Mileage | not specified by the state | N.Y. Judiciary Law § 521 |
| Employer must keep paying | Employers with more than 10 employees may not withhold the first $72 of daily wages for the first 3 days of jury service; after that, pay may be withheld. | N.Y. Judiciary Law § 519 |
| Job protected | Yes | N.Y. Judiciary Law § 519 |
| Age | No age exemption | N.Y. Judiciary Law § 510 |
| Length of service | Trial jurors serve no more than five court days of actual attendance (or less if the commissioner sets it), but stay until any trial they are on ends. | nysenate.gov |
| Before another summons | 72 months | nysenate.gov |
| Postponing | One postponement to a definite date when court is in session, no more than 6 months after the original date; a breastfeeding mother may postpone up to 2 years. Ask the county commissioner of jurors. | nysenate.gov |
| Not showing up | Civil penalty of up to $250 for failing to return the questionnaire or to appear; the section sets no jail term (ignoring a court order can bring other penalties). | N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527 |
Excuses and postponement in New York
Apply to the commissioner of jurors or the court; excusal requires incapacity, or undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to you, a person in your care, or the public. One postponement to a definite date when court is in session, no more than 6 months after the original date; a breastfeeding mother may postpone up to 2 years. Ask the county commissioner of jurors.
Can I be excused or postpone?
New York
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | none |
Apply to the commissioner of jurors or the court; excusal requires incapacity, or undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to you, a person in your care, or the public. One postponement to a definite date when court is in session, no more than 6 months after the original date; a breastfeeding mother may postpone up to 2 years. Ask the county commissioner of jurors.
A request is decided by the court, often with proof (a doctor's note, a school schedule). Ignoring a summons is not an excuse.
Official juror page: nycourts.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.